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Ephesians 3
Haystack bible commentary"Stacks and stacks of commentary...."
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==Ephesians 3:1-6:
For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—
2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you,
3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already,
4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ),
5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:
6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,
2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you,
3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already,
4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ),
5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:
6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,
==Ephesians 3:7:
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of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.
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Paul explains that this grace was given to him to preach the immeasurable riches of Christ to the Gentiles and to make known God's hidden, eternal plan. Verse 7: "I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power". This verse emphasizes that Paul's entire ministry and apostleship were a gift from God, enabled by His mighty power. This verse follows the revelation of a profound "mystery" that was hidden from ages past but is now made known to the church. Paul's specific role was to serve this gospel, meaning he was entrusted with communicating the good news of God's plan, particularly to the Gentiles. The purpose of his ministry was to reveal the boundless riches of Christ to the Gentiles and make plain the plan of the divine mystery hidden in God. Through this, God's multifaceted wisdom is displayed not only to humanity but also to the "rulers and authorities in the heavenly places". This is all part of God's eternal purpose, accomplished in Christ Jesus, and it was through faith in Him that such access was granted.
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==Ephesians 3:8-11:
To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;
10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,
11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,
9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;
10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,
11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,
==Ephesians 3:12:
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in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.
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We are a member of His supernatural community, the new creation, the kingdom of God, and we have a responsibility to reconstruct every area in terms of His word, His naming.
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==Ephesians 3:13:
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Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
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St. Paul encourages the Ephesians not to lose heart over what he is suffering, but that he seems to be able to recognize that this suffering is for “their glory.” (Ephesians 3:13) Paul reveals this glory in the following paragraph when he prays to the Father that the Ephesians might “have the power to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge,” that they might “be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:1-21)
Commenting on this passage, a 16th century Spanish Carmelite named John of the Cross says that Paul is encouraging the Ephesians “not to grow weary in the midst of tribulations, but to be steadfast and rooted and grounded in love, so that they may know with all the saints the breadth, the length, the height and the depth-to know what is beyond knowledge, the love of Christ, so as to be filled with the fullness of God.” -Matthew Montag |
==Ephesians 3:14-15:
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For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, |
All things, according to Paul, are named or called by God. The word name in Scripture means to “define.” When the unfallen Adam was asked by God to name “every living creature” (Gen 2:19), this was a scientific task guided by God, the classification of the animal creation. God, in naming Abraham, defined Abraham in terms of a divinely ordained calling and future. Likewise, God has a reason and purpose for you.
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==Ephesians 3:16-19:
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that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,
17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height-- 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. |
The passage is a prayer for believers to be strengthened inwardly by the Holy Spirit so that Christ can dwell in their hearts through faith, making them rooted in love.
Being established in love allows believers to grasp the vastness of Christ's love. This understanding, which surpasses knowledge, leads to being filled with the fullness of God. |
==Ephesians 3:20-21:
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20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. |
This is a rich verse. For brevity, I would zone in on what I think is the phrase that binds this together and that is "according to the power that is at work with in us." The key to our power is Gods word itself. As Isaiah states "....so Shalt My Word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." I am at a loss to think of much anything that is more powerful than that. Gods word has the only 100% guarantee of successful application. That is Power! As for me, when I tell my dishes to wash themselves...they completely ignore me...and, I can't find a verse to back me up:-)
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God's immeasurable ability: God can do "immeasurably more" than we can ask or imagine, highlighting his limitless power and ability to exceed human expectations. The power at work within believers is not an external force but the Holy Spirit. This is the same power that resurrected Christ and strengthens believers. All of God's actions are for His glory, demonstrated through the church and in Christ Jesus. The church reflects God's redemptive power and wisdom, while Jesus' life, death, and resurrection reveal God's plan and power. This doxology calls for God's glory "throughout all generations, for ever and ever!", providing an eternal perspective on God's enduring plan.
In summary, Ephesians 3:20–21 emphasizes God's boundless power working in believers to achieve purposes beyond their comprehension, prompting them to trust in this power and give all praise to God, who reveals His greatness through the church and Jesus Christ.
In summary, Ephesians 3:20–21 emphasizes God's boundless power working in believers to achieve purposes beyond their comprehension, prompting them to trust in this power and give all praise to God, who reveals His greatness through the church and Jesus Christ.
A woman once approached the famous preacher, G. Campbell Morgan, after he spoke and asked, “Do you think we should pray for even the little things in our lives, or just for the big things?” In his dignified British manner he replied, “Madam, can you think of anything in your life that is big to God?”
Now, I see, also, that if my case is very special, still I need not tremble or stand in dread of need. What if I require superabundant Grace? I may have it! If I need exceedingly abundant help, I can have it. Ah, if I need more Grace than I dare ask for, I can have it! Yes, and if I require more than I think, I may have it, for still my Lord is able to give it to me, and what He is able to do, He is willing to do. What comfort this should afford even to poor sinners who are far away from God. He is able to give you great forgiveness for the greatest possible sin! Sins that you have not yet thought of, He can pardon! Do but come to God in Christ Jesus and you shall find Him able to save to the uttermost. If this little hint is taken up by some despairing heart, it may give it immediate peace! It cannot be true that God cannot forgive, for in Christ Jesus, ‘He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above what we ask or even think.’ (Charles Spurgeon:. Paul’s Doxology. 1875)
He is able...
(Thompson, Frank Charles. The New Comprehensive Bible Helps. "The New Chain Reference Bible," Indianapolis, IN: B.B. Kirkbride Bible Co., 1964, p.153, number 3810.)
- to raise up children from stones
- to fulfill promises even if they are humanly impossible
- to make grace abound
- to subdue all things
- to guard the soul's treasure
- to save to the uttermost
- to keep us from falling
(Thompson, Frank Charles. The New Comprehensive Bible Helps. "The New Chain Reference Bible," Indianapolis, IN: B.B. Kirkbride Bible Co., 1964, p.153, number 3810.)